Fans and vendors mull around outside the Florida Citrus Bowl on Dec. 11, as the excitement of a high-school state championship football game between Miami Norland and Tampa Jefferson builds inside.

It's a beautiful late-fall afternoon, and that undefinable buzz is in the air. Call it football fever. The anticipation of big games to come.

It's the feeling that has almost always defined games in the historic Orlando stadium. And, after the problems on Jan. 1, just under a year ago, it's a feeling the members of Florida Citrus Sports hope is back to stay.

Last year, a combination of rain along with the state high-school finals had taken its toll on the field forcing the city to spend $36,000 to re-sod less than a month before the Champs Sports and Capital One Bowls. However, cold weather prevented the grass from taking hold.

A rainstorm on Capital One game day turned the Citrus Bowl into a giant mess. Penn State and Louisiana State University players were covered from head to toe in mud, the field peppered with chunks of sod. A national televised audience watched as players spent much of the day slipping and sliding around the field in conditions that best suited a monster truck rally.

ESPN and other national media outlets ripped the Citrus Bowl publicly. After the game, LSU wide receiver Brandon LaFell said the field was "the worst football field I've ever seen in my life."

And, perhaps worst of all, the Southeastern Conference, which along with the Big Ten traditionally sends its top non- BCS teams to Orlando, raised concerns about the stadium. In the ever-competitive bowl environment, unhappy conferences could ultimately lead to less attractive teams playing in Orlando.

For a city that has long prided itself on hosting two bowls games and is a desired destination for many teams, it was a black eye. And for the thousands of volunteers who were involved in the game, it was devastating.

"I've been here 15 years and it was the worst experience I've ever had." FCS Executive Director Steve Hogan said.

Looking to avoid a repeat, the city of Orlando replaced the natural grass at the Citrus Bowl with AstroTurf in July for $1 million. It was part of a $10 million renovation to the aging stadium that included new restrooms, a new box office, more concession stands as well as cosmetic changes including painting of the concourses and adding addition lighting.

The new turf is able to withstand heavy use, which is good considering the stadium hosts eight state high-school football games and the two bowls all within a two-week period.

So far, through the high school finals, the field has held up great. And members of the commission insist that even if last year's adverse weather repeats itself playing conditions will remain fine.

"We are real pleased with the results of it and how it has responded," said Allen Johnson, executive director of Orlando venues. "I will say this, I don't worry about the temperatures and the weather as much this year as I did last year."

The SEC says its happy with the upgrades as well.

"I think they were very disappointed with what took place," said Mark Womack, executive associate commissioner of the SEC. "So their move to eliminate that issue by adding the new artificial turf surface was something that we were very happy to see and will give us a quality playing surface there for the future."

That future will come into focus quickly as North Carolina State and West Virginia take the field today followed by a quick turnaround for the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. That game features defending national champion Alabama and Michigan State.

"It's a chance for us to shine on national TV and we look forward to what we are gonna be able to show off this year," Johnson said.

For Hogan, the past is best left behind.

"It was a blip on the 65-year history that we had one bad day like that. We've got it fixed and here's what's in there now and here is why you should love it," Hogan added.